Prefabricated holder with orchid clip



July 28, 1964 J. A. SHOEMAKER 3,142,100

PREFABRICATED HOLDER mm oacmn cup Filed April 12, 1962 Fig.

John A. Shoemaker l N VEN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,142,100 PREFABRICATED HOLDER WITH ORCHID CLIP John A. Shoemaker, Shively, Ky.

(4117 Eden Lane, Louisville 16, Ky.) Filed Apr. 12,1962, S er. No. 187,049 1 Claim. (Cl. 24 s This invention relates to an' improved holder which is expressly designed and adapted to locate and reliably retain a hybrid or cymbidium orchid in place on a prefabricated ready-to-sell frame.

Briefly and broadly the holder comprises impaling means which is suitably constructed and adapted to axially pierce and anchor the stem of the orchid or other flower thereon. The complemental or companion adapter means comprises a manually bendable easy-to-shape clip. This clip is made of malleable material, preferably soft sheet aluminum, is disposed alongside the impaling means, is attached thereto, offset therefrom, and is such that it cooperates therewith in a manner to fasten the flower securely in its intended place.

More particularly, the invention is characterized by a length of annealed florists wire, and a bendable malleable metal (or equivalent material) clip, said clip embodying a T-shaped body portion including a stem with a T-head atop the same and a split sleeve at the bottom of the stem, said sleeve being offset and attached to said wire a predetermined distance from the upper end of the wire, that portion of the wire above said sleeve being spaced from the T-shaped body portion and providing a flower impaling pin.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a complete corsage frame showing the improved orchid holding clip embodied therein;

FIGURE 2 is a view at right angles to FIG. 1 taken on the plane of section line 22 and with portions broken away and shown in section to illustrate the component parts, their construction and interconnected relationship;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the sheet material blank from which the novel clip is formed;

FIGURE 4 is a view in elevation showing the blank after it has been fashioned into the clip with the clip mounted on a length of annealed florists wire the lower portion of which is broken away;

FIGURE 5 is an edge view of the assembly shown in FIG. 4 illustrating the laterally oflset T-shaped portion of the clip and the flower stem impaling member which is opposed in parallel-ism thereto; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the orchid impaled and the manner in which the tabs of the clip are bent around the same to hold it in position and against accidental displacement.

With reference first to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the flower (orchid or the like) impaling means comprises a suitable length or strand of annealed florists wire 8. The adapter means comprises the novel retaining clip denoted generally by the numeral 10. This clip is struck-out from an aluminum or equivalent malleable metal blank, illustrated in FIG. 3. The blank is T-shaped and the stem portion 12 is bent intermediate its ends as at 14 to provide a shoulder. The portion 16 below the shoulder is formed into a split attaching sleeve 18, said sleeve being secured to the wire 8 below the upper end portion thereof. When thus mounted in place the T-shaped portion of the clip is offset from and disposed in spaced parallel relatior. to the coacting portion 20 of the wire. This portion con- 3,142,100 Patented July 28, 1964 stitutes an impaling member or pin and it will be noted that the upper end 21 projects a short distance above the upper end of the cross-head 22 of the T. Therespective end or ear portions 24 of the head provide tabs and are bendable on the lines 26 and when properly bent they are disposed in overlapping relationship to embrace the stem of the orchid or other flower A (see FIG. 6). The offsetting shoulder serves to space the stem 26 of the T-shaped body portion from the impaling pin 20. With this construction and arrangement it will be evident that the projecting upper end'21 of the impaling pin assumes a position which enables the user to guide and pilot the stern of the flower into position in its holding means. The shoulder 14 provides the desired clearance and also constitutes a satisfactory limit stop as is evident from the showing, for instance, in FIG. 6.

That portion of the aforementioned wire 8 which extends below the sleeve 18 constitutes a bendable shank or artificial flower stem and is denoted by the numeral 28. It may be curved or otherwise shaped and bent to facilitate attachment to the wearers garment (not shown). In practice it is desired to encase the shank or stem 28 and also the attaching sleeve 18 and this is accomplished preferably by using adhesive florists tape which is designated at 30 and is wound or wrapped in place in the manner illustrated. There is also a second wrapping or covering of tape 32 the upper portion 34 of which serves to facilitate mounting the front and back ornaments 36 and 38, respectively. In practice these ornaments will, of course, vary in makeup and form. The one shown as a typical example at the front comprises a bow of ribbon 40. The central portion is gathered and secured in place by an eye 42 at one end of an attaching wire 44. The end of the wire 44 is tucked and secured between the wrappings 30 and 34 as brought out in FIG. 2. The rear or back ornament 38 is fashioned from decoratively arranged netting 46 to provide the desired rosette-like background for the front ornament and the intervening orchid or other flower A. Instead of net, artificial foliage (not shown) may be used. In any event the central or hub portion is provided with an eye 48 having an attaching wire 50 which is anchored in place between the wrappings 30 and 34 as shown in FIG. 2.

Briefly summarized, the flower holding means comprises, as shown, a bendable aluminum modified T-shaped clip 10 pressed or stapled on a single piece of annealed florists wire 8. The terminal of the wire extends onequarter of an inch above the top of the clip. The wire and base of the clip may be wrapped with floral tape or any suitable material or dipped in liquid plastic.

To make up a corsage simply cut the orchid stem off one inch from base of flower. Impale stem on wire until end of stem seats on the shoulder 14 of clip. Press side clips around stem to secure in place. If any adjusting is needed lower section of clip can be bent slightly to shape.

This invention provides a quick method of securing the flower to the corsage frame which is made up in advance of the time of sale, complete with ribbons, maline net or artificial foliage.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An orchid holder adapted to be readily incorporated in a prefabricated orchid corsage frame comprising: a strand of florists wire embodying an elongated shank portion adapted to permit the user to pin or otherwise attach the same to a garment, an upper end portion of said wire constituting an impaling pin capable of axially piercing and mounting the stem portion of the orchid thereon, and a one-piece sheet material manually bendable malleable clip embodying a normally flat T-shaped portion including a leg having a T-head at its top and a depending split sleeve at its bottom, said sleeve being in a plane laterally offset relative to the plane of said leg and surrounding and being attached to a median portion of said Wire, the end portions of said T-head providing a pair of cooperative bendable tabs, said tabs being alike, oriented and capable 4 of being bent forwardly toward said impaling pin whereby to permit the free terminal ends to be aligned and overlapped in a manner to embrace and securely retain the stern of said orchid in its given anchored position on said impaling pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,769,198 Albany July 1, 1930 1,990,407 Kamrass Feb. 5, 1935 2,553,953 Arkinstall p May 22, 1951 

